The real deal
It's a story which can't help but touch your heart. Aged 15, with his mother, younger sister and two-month old baby brother, he watched as his father was taken away while he and the rest of the family were ordered out of Kosova, a five day trek over the mountains to safety in Albania. His father had been in hiding from the Serbian police, but on hearing his wife's pleas for the life of their children, held with machine guns pointed at them, he gave himself up. The family heard the gunshot which killed him and saw the smoke rising from their home as the Serbian police and Yugolslav army continued their atrocities across their village of Meya, just outside Gjakova. 27th April 1999 will live in Jeton's memory for the rest of his life.
It took four years and DNA testing for his father's body to be found. It had been transported to Serbia and dumped in a mass grave near Belgrade. No one has ever been convicted of this crime. Jeton's journey of forgiveness for the Serbs who murdered his father, his transformation by the love and grace of Christ and his calling into Christian ministry are all remarkable.
After the war many Christian mission agencies helped to rebuild shattered communities and burnt out buildings. One such was Samaritan's Purse and particularly Shaun, an Australian volunteer. He helped to rebuild the family home and build another house on the family homestead where Jeton and his wife and three children now live. Shaun's example of Christian love and the witness of other Kosovan believers enabled Jeton to make his own Christian commitment. This might sound strange as the village of Meya is historically Catholic, but this label was more cultural than religious. Sadly Jeton's Christian commitment has left him open to accusations of betrayal by his own community, specifically a betrayal even of his own father. One can only imagine the hurt this has caused. Undaunted, Jeton began working for Pristina based Christian Radio 7 Kosova and started the Rebirth of Kosova Church in 2007. He receives no pay for this demanding ministry, the family's only income coming from his twice weekly broadcasts on Radio 7. Here he is in his studio in an upstairs room of his home.
We leave Gjakova today after five amazing weeks. I have experienced the love of God in new and refreshing ways and am deeply grateful for the time spent here. I hope we have brought some encouragement to sisters and brothers in Christ - we've certainly enjoyed getting to know them and receiving their love. I'd like to tell you many of their stories but time and blog space don't allow. Here is Jeton with (l-r) his wife Flora, great worship leaders Helen and Ilir (we borrowed their flat!), faithful church member 'Dougie' (as I call him!) and Jeton's sister and church youth leader, Drita.
I have the privilege of preaching in two different countries today - first time I've ever done that! Immediately after the service in Gjakova we travel on to Northern Macedonia. I can't say too much about where and with whom because of security concerns, but I hope to blog from there in the next couple of days.
